Category Manager

Heidelberg Materials Limited; Thatcham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Bonus

27 days holiday

Job summary

Heidelberg Materials UK is seeking a Category Manager for Major Projects Procurement to lead procurement strategies and end-to-end sourcing for capital projects across our UK sites. You will drive supplier negotiations, contract delivery and risk mitigation, working with engineering, operations and finance teams to optimise value.

The role requires extensive CAPEX procurement experience in heavy industry, strong commercial acumen and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across UK and

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering or related discipline
• CIPS qualification (or working towards) is highly desirable
• Significant procurement experience in manufacturing, heavy industry, construction, engineering or infrastructure sectors
• Proven experience managing major CAPEX projects and high-value contracts
• Strong commercial acumen with excellent negotiation and contract management skills
• Experience with ERP and procurement systems such as SAP Ariba or Oracle
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and manage multiple project priorities
• Willingness to travel to sites across the UK and Europe as required

Responsibilities

• Developing and implementing procurement strategies for major capital projects
• Managing end-to-end sourcing activities including RFIs, RFPs and tender processes
• Leading supplier negotiations and securing favourable commercial agreements
• Building and managing relationships with strategic suppliers and contractors
• Conducting market analysis and supplier assessments to identify opportunities and mitigate risk
• Supporting project teams with procurement planning, contract management and supplier performance reviews
• Partnering with Engineering, Operations, Legal, Finance and Project teams to ensure successful project delivery
• Driving value through competitive tendering, commercial challenge and innovation
• Monitoring procurement performance and identifying continuous improvement opportunities

Skills

Procurement

CAPEX management

Contract negotiations

Stakeholder management

Sourcing strategy

Supplier relationship mgmt

Education

Degree in Supply Chain

Degree in Business

Degree in Engineering

Tools

SAP Ariba

Oracle ERP

Job description

# **Category Manager - Major Projects Procurement**# **Maidenhead, Chipping Sodbury or Padeswood**# **Competitive Salary + Car Allowance + Bonus + Benefits**Are you an experienced procurement professional with a track record of delivering major capital projects in complex industrial environments? We're looking for a **Category Manager - Major Projects Procurement** to play a key role in supporting major Cement reliability and CAPEX projects across Heidelberg Materials. Working at the heart of significant investment programmes, you'll lead procurement activities from strategy through to contract delivery, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and with maximum commercial value. This role will provide dedicated procurement expertise to major projects, helping to reduce commercial risk, strengthen supplier relationships, and improve project outcomes through robust procurement leadership. ## What you'll be doing* Developing and implementing procurement strategies for major capital projects.* Managing end-to-end sourcing activities including RFIs, RFPs and tender processes.* Leading supplier negotiations and securing favourable commercial agreements.* Building and managing relationships with strategic suppliers and contractors.* Conducting market analysis and supplier assessments to identify opportunities and mitigate risk.* Supporting project teams with procurement planning, contract management and supplier performance reviews.* Partnering with Engineering, Operations, Legal, Finance and Project teams to ensure successful project delivery.* Driving value through competitive tendering, commercial challenge and innovation.* Monitoring procurement performance and identifying continuous improvement opportunities. ## What we're looking for* Degree qualified in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering or a related discipline.* CIPS qualification (or working towards) is highly desirable.* Significant procurement experience within manufacturing, heavy industry, construction, engineering or infrastructure sectors.* Proven experience managing major CAPEX projects and high-value contracts.* Strong commercial acumen with excellent negotiation and contract management skills.* Experience working with ERP and procurement systems such as SAP Ariba or Oracle.* Ability to influence senior stakeholders and manage multiple project priorities.* Willingness to travel to sites across the UK and Europe as required. **Why Join us?**At Heidelberg Materials, we don’t just offer jobs—we build careers. As a global leader in construction materials, we’re committed to innovation, sustainability, and, above all, our people. **Rewards & Benefits**We’re proud to be recognised as an Employer of Choice, with accreditations including:* Armed Forces Covenant (Gold) | Disability Confident | 5% Club (Platinum) | Mates in Mind | Clear Assured | STEM Ambassador | MPQC Member* Competitive Package: Salary, bonus incentives, generous pension, and life assurance* Work-Life Balance: 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays), agile/flexible working, holiday purchase, and sabbatical options, Season and travel ticket loans* Family-Friendly Policies: Enhanced support for maternity, paternity, adoption, IVF, neonatal care, and menopause* Inclusive Culture: Paid volunteering day and active employee communities (LGBTQ+, Women in STEM, Armed Forces, and more)* Wellbeing & Development: Employee Assistance Programme, retail discounts, and continuous learning opportunities ##At Heidelberg Materials UK (previously known as Hanson UK) we strive to create an inclusive and respectful workplace where every individual can bring their unique skills and background to contribute to the success of our business.### About usAt Heidelberg Materials UK (previously known as Hanson UK), we understand that a diverse workforce is key to our growth and development, and we aim to foster a culture that values openness, transparency, and individual achievement.As part of our commitment to promoting diversity, we are actively working to encourage more individuals to consider careers within the construction industry.We believe in building a workplace that is dedicated to promoting inclusivity and diversity.If you're interested in joining our team, we encourage you to apply, even if your experience or skill set doesn't perfectly align with the job description. Creating a candidate home page is optional, when asked, but you can use this to quickly see the progress of your application(s).You may still be the right fit for this or other roles within our company.Heidelberg Materials is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process. For quick access to screen reading technology compatible with this site click here to download a free compatible screen reader (free step by step tutorial can be found here). Please contact [e-mail] for additional information or to request accommodations.We understand that women may face unique challenges in their careers, and we are committed to providing a supportive environment to help you thrive.Our family-friendly policies, such as enhanced maternity and parental leave, neonatal care, and adoption support, will provide you with the flexibility and support you need to balance your personal and professional commitments.We also offer a range of benefits, such as access to our Employee Assistance Program, trained mental health first aiders, discounted private medical benefits and much more, to ensure your wellbeing is prioritized.